Simply Crochet: Giselle Vest

Giselle Vest (Simply Crochet, Dec 2011)

This is a second stop on my blog on the Simply Crochet Countdown to Fun Blog Tour. The Giselle Vest is a second design I had contributed to Robyn Chachula's book Simply Crochet: 22 Stylish Designs for Every Day. The book is  now available for purchase in both hard copy and e-book.

This top vest is crochet in a beautiful flower lace design forming horizontal lines that is flattering to many body shapes. The top has an easy construction; the body is worked from side to side beginning and ending at center back finished with edging around the top and bottom edges and shoulder straps crocheted on. As all Robyn's books, the instructions are given in both written form and accompanied by charts.

Giselle is worked in Cascade Yarns, Heritage (75% merino superwash, 25% nylon; 437 yd/400 m /3.5 oz/ 100 g): #5648 strawberry cream with D/3 (3.25mm) hook. The yarn is very soft and very easy to work with. The yarn has a great yardage; you need only 2-3 hanks to make this top so it is very budget friendly.

What is your favorite fingering yarn to use for crochet projects? Let me know in the comments.

Next stop for the blog tour is tomorrow, December 15, 2011, at Robyn Chachula's  www.crochetbyfaye.blogspot.com.

Free Crochet Pattern: Pineapple Top

Hopefully by now you are finishing all your holiday gift projects and are getting ready to make something for yourself. You can start with making something for spring wear like the Pineapple Top. This is a light, lacy top you can wear over any tank top or even a long sleeve shirt to updated your look.

The top is worked in Cascade Yarns, Ultra Pima (100% pima cotton; 220 yd [200 m]/3.5 oz [100 g]) in color #3745 with F/5 (3.75 mm) size hook. The yarn is very easy to work with; the hook nicely slips as you crochet. The yarn has a slight shine and the fabric becomes even softer after it is blocked. Yummy, yummy yarn!

 The Cascade Ultra Pima Pineapple Top is an easy crochet project that is worked sideways with minimal shaping. Starting at center back/front, the top is crocheted to sleeve edge. After each left and right sides are finished, the two pieces are joined at center back and center front, then the lower band is worked downward. You can easily modify how deep you want your v-neck to be.

Pineapple top is available as a free download on Cascade Yarns website.

Hope you will enjoy!





Want more crochet ideas for spring projects? You can see more of my crochet patterns for sale here.
Here are some of crocheter's favorites.

Summer Splash Dress

Spring Shell

Retro Cardigan

Simply Crochet e-book Winner

Thank you to all who entered to win Simply Crochet e-book. I enjoyed reading all your lovely comments.

So without further to do. The winner of the book is..... "theresay"! Congratulations!! I will be forwarding your e-mail to Robyn Chachula. She will be in touch with you regarding how to download the copy. I am assuming your e-mail on the blogger is correct. If not, please private message me on Raverly, or leave the e-mail in the commments.

To follow the rest of the book blog tour, see schedule below. I will have another stop of the tour on my blog on December 14.Come back to check it out.

Simply Crochet: Emma Lace Scarf

Emma Lace Scarf is a very special project for me.  It is one of the two projects I contributed to Robyn Chachula's newest crochet book Simply Crochet: 22 Stylish Designs for Every Day; and it is my first project I had contributed to any of Robyn's books. I felt honored when she asked me to submit to her book since she's one of the crochet designers whose work I have long admired. Furthermore, many talented crochet designers I love, and nearly all of them who I am friends with, have showcased their designs in this book.


The Emma Lace Scarf  was inspired by a leather belt in a Victorian style I saw on a runway couple of years ago.  I loved the ornate and romantic look of it and wanted to translate it into crochet. So I made a swatch in this beautiful stitch pattern initially not even knowing what I am going to use it for. The scarf is made in Lion Brand Yarn, LB Collection Superwash Merino (100% Superwash Merino; 306 yd 280 m/3.5 oz 100 g): #114 cayenne, with size G/6 (4 mm) hook. I absolutely loved this yarn, it was very soft and easy to work with. I was pleasantly surprised that this great value yarn is of such a high quality. I highly recommend it and will be using it for my own crochet projects in the future.

As I was working on the project, Robyn had realized having yarn sent to me that we used to live about 10 minutes away from each other before she moved away! What a coincidence. It is wild that we used to go to the same grocery store and did not even know it. World is so, so small. But I got a chance to meet her personally for the first time at TNNA and I have to note that not only Robyn is wonderful person to work with, but she's also very funny and I enjoy hanging out with her.

BOOK HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY
If you are running around in this pre-Christmas time trying to get everything done on your list, slow down and post a comment here on the blog.  Interweave Press made a great offer to one of my readers; I can give away one free e-book copy of the Simply Crochet to one of you. All you need to do is to leave a comment here on the blog. You have until tomorrow, December 7th, 2011, midnight ET, to be included in the drawing. I will randomly draw a person and will announce here on December 8th. Good luck!

Simply Crochet book offers designs divided into chapters according to how much yarn is needed to complete a project: 1 ball, 2-3 balls, 4-5 balls. In addition, the book provides tips from designers on how to work crochet projects on a budget and tips on how to manage our own yarn stash. The book is available in both paperback and as an e-book. You can pre-order it now. The e-book is available for download and the hard copy will be on sale December 7, 2011.

Simply Crochet Countdown to fun:
Here is the blog tour in its entirety

1ball projects

Dec 1 Iced Ascot by Rebecca Velasquez, http://rebeccavelasquezdesigns.blogspot.com/

Dec 2 Flapper Hat by Margaret Hubert, http://margaretshooksandneedles.blogspot.com/

Dec 3 Billows of Baubles Scarf by Sheryl Means, http://sherylmeanscrochet.com/

Dec 4 Twist Cowl Wrap by Linda Permann, http://www.lindamade.com/wordpress/

Dec 5 Mystic Cuff by Robyn Chachula, crochetbyfaye.blogspot.com 

Dec 6 Emma Lace Scarf by Simona Merchant-Dest, http://stylishknits.blogspot.com/

Dec 7 Diamonds and Lace Hat by Linda Permann, http://www.lindamade.com/wordpress/

Dec 8 Neck Lattice by Vashti Braha, http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/

2-3 balls projects

Dec 9 Botan Placemats by Marlaina Bird, http://knitthing.blogspot.com/

Dec 10 Tapestry Basket by Carol Ventura, http://www.tapestrycrochet.com/blog/

Dec 11 Blooming Beauty Purse by Tracie Barrett, http://traciebarrett.com/blog/

Dec 12 Nedburt Puppet by Robyn Chachula, crochetbyfaye.blogspot.com

Dec 13 Natalie Shrug by Megan Granholm, http://loopdedoo.blogspot.com/

Dec 14 Giselle Vest by Simona Merchant-Dest, http://stylishknits.blogspot.com/

Dec 15 Sidney Cardigan by Robyn Chachula, crochetbyfaye.blogspot.com

Dec 16 Annabel Shawl by Kristin Omdahl, http://www.styledbykristin.com/

4- 5 balls projects

Dec 17 Tallula Baby Top by Marlaina Bird, http://knitthing.blogspot.com/

Dec 18 Amelia Cardigan by Julia Vaconsin, http://www.juliavaconsin.com/

Dec 19 Float Vest, Float Cardigan by Robyn Chachula, crochetbyfaye.blogspot.com

Dec 20 Linked Jacket by Robyn Chachula, crochetbyfaye.blogspot.com

Dec 21 Dots and Dashes Blanket by Ellen Gormley, http://www.gocrochet.com/

Dec 22 Spa Shawl Top by Doris Chan, Spa Shawl Tunic by Doris Chan, http://dorischancrochet.com/